Sheesh! I upgraded my hard drive and *whoosh* all my passwords vanished. I couldn't remember mine so I re-registered but under the new identity I couldn't post. I figured I was gone for good but out of the dark recesses of my brain the password popped up and here I am.
Cross season is here and my team mates and I are hitting some good ones-- Boulder Cup this weekend, Cincy, Louisville, Tulsa, Dallas then nationals in January. Already did Trek CXC and Jingle Cross. Not that I'm even near the pointy end of the race but I love the CX scene and have fun even being pack-fill.
So a certain person, who swore me to secrecy so he shall remain nameless, provided the biggest laugh of the season.
At Trek CXC a ton of the Euro pros were there to use the race as a warm up for the World Cup in LasVegas plus it was a C-1 race so they had reason to take it serious. Sven, now retired, was putting on a CX clinic on Friday and everyone was sack jawed just seeing him, plus his Fidea team was there in full force. We were awestruck and acting like kids in a candy store.
After our races on Sunday the un-named person had changed into shorts and a tee shirt and was riding his bike back from the pit. In the middle of the parking lot with nothing within ten feet of him, and at two miles an hour he tries to dismount but gets his cargo shorts tangled up in the saddle and ends up in an ignominious heap.
While still on the ground he looked up and there is Sven Nys and three or four other Fidea guys.
Sven cocked his head and asked, "Are you alright?"
"My pride is destroyed but I'm OK."
I had tears in my eyes when he was telling me that story. No doubt the Belgians were secretly laughing, "No wonder we slaughter the Americans, goofballs can't get across a parking lot intact."
Crashing right in front of the king of cyclocross... priceless!

Hahaha - I've had my shorts tangled with saddle a couple times leading to some mighty awkward balancing moments but never managed to actually crash because of it. Nevermind turn it into a public spectacle.

Years back we had a rider that was a real irritant on group rides and on one of his really obnoctshus (sp) days my buddy and I rode up beside him and pulled the back of his shorts down and hooked them under the seat. That was fun watching him try and cover his butt and get unhooked from the seat. Didn't change him at all but was good for a laugh.

Welcome back Dale! (And yes, I did notice your absence.) Edit: I did the same when I changed computers a couple of years ago, sadly lurking for months)

I wish I had the coordination for 'cross. I'd just be a hazard to myself and others. (Though I think I have the skills to get across parking lots, even on a 'cross bike.) Too bad. I have known about 'cross a long time. Had a clubmate/coworker who raced 'cross, loved it and was good back in the day. You've probably heard of him. He never stopped. Paul Curley of Boston. (I kept a safe distance from him in races. He took up a lot of space when he sprinted and wasn't a nice guy. But I gave him my respect. And still do. The guy can race.)

lsd, suspenders probably would have worked. Yes, you can flip open the clips, but it would give the wearer more time.

Ben (who still wears John Allis approved suspenders. John who? Google him.) I went to watch when the Nationals came to PDX for consecutive years. I just missed the 40-50 Masters; learned that Paul took second - at 49 yo - but had jumped on a flight home to defend his NE series (which he won) and missed the ceremony. Next year he won the 50s and I got to catch up with him.

Just googled Paul Curley. Wow! Both all the stuff he won and a glimpse at my past life. A news clipping of the State Championships in the early days of hardshell helmets. Photo by Grace Jones, the District Rep who was my biggest fan after my head injury. Other photos of Paul and others racing in leather helmets. Takes me back.

Hey Ben, yeah I've raced Paul a few times-- nationals twice, Resolution Cup in Dallas a couple years ago and Johnson City, TN just before nats last year. He and I are not in the same league.... same age bracket but not the same ability.

Posted By Jerry Russell on 10/12/2016 05:23 PM
Years back we had a rider that was a real irritant on group rides and on one of his really obnoctshus (sp) days my buddy and I rode up beside him and pulled the back of his shorts down and hooked them under the seat. That was fun watching him try and cover his butt and get unhooked from the seat. Didn't change him at all but was good for a laugh.

Jer

Yeah, we used to do that to guys on our college cycling team....we'd pick out our non-bib victim, someone would "hook" his shorts and we'd all attack out of the saddle. Victim couldn't stand to respond and would frantically try and get their shorts unhooked.
Wasn't long before everyone was wearing bibs..